Seahwak MoJo | Music At The Center

Marshall Hawkins and Seahawk MoJO return for our Fifth Annual Black History Month Wine Art and Jazz Night, SUNDAYFebruary 18th 2018, at the Diamond Valley Arts Center located at 123 N. Harvard St., Hemet Ca 92543. Admission is $15 for Members and $20 or General Admission. Student tickets are $5 for Online Pre-Sale and $10 at the door. Tickets are available online or by stopping by the art center. Doors open at 6:30pm with the concert starting at 7:00pm. As always, DVAC members receive their price Online at checkout. Don't forget your coupon code. Marshall Hawkins along with Seahawk MoJO will take listeners on a journey from Africa where music began with the drum through the new world and into modern music. Hawkins' delivery of his message of the unifying power of music makes this Black History Month celebration one for all ages, races, genders and backgrounds.

In the late 1960s and ’70s, Hawkins played bass with legends such as The Miles Davis Quintet, Shirley Horn and Roberta Flack before forming his own quintet.

In 1978, Marshall moved to Idyllwild, California, home of the internationally famous high school for the arts. In 1986, he founded the Jazz program at the Idyllwild Arts Academy, serving as the head of the Jazz Department until his retirement. The Idyllwild Arts Jazz program has earned top honors the prestigious Berklee School of Music High School Jazz Festival. In addition to teaching Jazz as an art form, Marshall has mentored hundreds of talented young people who he still considers to be "his kids."

Being well aware of the numbers of talented young people who cannot afford to attend a private high school for the arts, Marshall saw the need to raise scholarship funds for deserving young musicians. In 1994, Marshall co-founded the enormously successful Jazz in the Pines Festival and served as its Music Director for over 20 years.

Marshall is deeply committed to teaching and exposing school children to the uniquely American art form of Jazz. In 2002, he organized the Seahawk Modern Jazz Orchestra (MOJO) and brings unforgettable Jazz and educational programs to elementary and secondary schools. This orchestra also gives Marshall's former students an opportunity to play with an amazing group of musicians and guest artists.

“That’s what makes it so unique,” Hawkins said. “The students are able to come back and play with the teachers. Any other group can come join the orchestra, too.” He added there can be as few as seven people and as many as 35, but each performance exposes the kids to connections between music and society.

Hawkins said the program is not meant to turn all kids into professional musicians but to make them cognizant of how important art is in their lives. This message is not only for “his Kids” but for the rest of us as well.

MUSIC AT THE CENTER is a fundraiser for The DVAC and its programs. Doors open at 6:30 pm with the concert beginning at 7:00pm. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for sponsorship opportunities. Read More

One's Two's and Three's

Real-Photo Postcards

DVAC’s newest Gallery exhibit is now on display! Collector Charles Schoenknecht shares, in this show, over 50 Real -Photo Postcards from his collection of over 3000 cards.

He has been a collector since childhood, and felt “compelled” to collect and possess unusual things. One of his favorite areas is Real-Photo Postcards. These black and white images are reflections of the time and place where they were made. The postcards in this show were popular from 1902 into the 1930’s, and were made in quantities of six or less. These images celebrate moments and experiences of the subjects and their time, bridging the past and present. Calling on his background as an artist and art teacher, he chose these images. He hopes you will look for subject matter, details and mood and allow yourself to explore a small part of the past.

Since its founding in 2004, “Advancing the Arts – Creating Community” has been the motto of The Diamond Valley Arts Council. With The DVAC’s move into a new facility at 123 N. Harvard St. in downtown Hemet, the implications of that ideal has taken on even greater significance for both the arts and for the community. As an organization dedicated to promoting awareness of, and greater participation in, the arts, locating in downtown Hemet opens the door for greater visibility of what The DVAC is, what we do and what is available to our community in term of arts and culture activities, events and venues. Stop by The Arts Center during our planned business hours of 11:00 am to 5:00 pm any Wednesday through Saturday.

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for sponsorship opportunities.Read More

A STARRY NIGHT | Gala for the Arts

The Diamond Valley Arts Council invites you to a “Gala For The Arts”. Saturday, March 10th at 6:00pm, The Diamond Valley Arts Council will host its First Annual “Gala for The Arts” at its Art Center on North Harvard Street in the Historic Harvard District in Hemet.

The First Annual “Gala for the Arts” will be themed to Van Gogh’s Starry Nights. The beautiful evening of dinner and dancing will be the event of the year for the Arts. It is the opportunity to contribute to the overall quality of life in the San Jacinto Valley. We look forward in highlighting the best of the Arts along with what is possible in our community.

The Diamond Valley Arts Council was founded in 2004 with the intent of promoting awareness of, and greater participation in, the arts. With its new Art Center located in the Historic Harvard District in Hemet, the DVAC, along with its organizational partners, is poised to deliver a sustained arts presence to the entire San Jacinto Valley. Over the past 14 years, the DVAC has undergone many changes and grown its programs to currently administering the following: Summer Art classes, Summer Theater classes, San Jacinto USD after school art classes, MUSICA! IVY, MUSICA! summer strings, MUSICA! after school music, Art for Youth Competition and Juried Show, Annual Festival of the Arts juried exhibition for artists, musicians, poets and writers, Tahquitz HS photography show and reception, Dance workshops with MSJC dance instructors, San Jacinto writers guild meetings and book show, High school jazz band young artists series along with programs added routinely.

Tickets are $65 per person. Reserved tables are available as well. Get your tickets now! This is the event you don’t want to miss!

Doors open at 6:30 pm with the concert beginning at 7:00pm. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for sponsorship opportunities.Read More

Upcoming DVAC Events

Fiber Arts Show

FIBER ARTS SHOW | DVAC Gallery Exhibit

The Diamond Valley Arts Council (DVAC) is pleased to continue the tradition of bringing outstanding fiber art works by local and regional artists of our community through the third juried Fiber Arts Exhibition.The show will be installed from February 28, 2018 to April 28, 2018. A reception will be held Sunday, March 4th 2018. Please check our website for times.

Upcoming Events

Seahawk MoJO | Music At The Center +

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Gala For The Arts +

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Steven Ragsdale Quartet | MUSIC AT THE CENTER +

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